HCMC - The HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) has announced that the classic operetta “The Merry Widow” will be performed on the evenings of August 12 and 13 at the Saigon Opera House.

HBSO held a press conference yesterday, August 2, to announce their collaboration with the HCMC Goethe Institute and German-Vietnamese artistic group to bring this classic operetta to local spectators. “The Merry Widow” is a special adaptation of the classic operetta “Die Lustige Witwe” by Franz Léhar. It was first performed in 1905 in Austria and has graced European stages nearly 500 times. After two years, the operetta found its way to Broadway, delighting audiences with over 400 continuous performances. Its recordings and scores have achieved remarkable sales, generating tens of millions of U.S. dollars in revenue. The operetta centers around Hanna Glawari, a widow who inherits a vast fortune, making her the object of desire for many suitors. Amidst the romantic entanglements, Hanna attempts to rekindle her past romance with Danilo Danilovitsch. Meanwhile, a love triangle between Baron Zeta, Valencienne Zeta, and Camille de Rosillon adds to the captivating drama. This special Vietnamese edition of "The Merry Widow" features a talented team, including renowned playwright Tra Nguyen, conductor Askan Geisler, director Anna Weber, stage designer Lina Oanh Nguyen, and costume designer Tom Trandt. The production showcases excellent Vietnamese artists such as Pham Khanh Ngoc (in the lead role), Dao Mac, Duyen Nguyen, Nguyen Thu Huong, and Pham Trang, along with the choirmasters and musicians of HBSO.